Prosecuted Under Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE – Jesus Rodriguez, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The guilty plea, which was entered without the benefit of a plea agreement, was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales, III.

Rodriguez was arrested in April 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition in Bernalillo County, N.M., on Jan. 29, 2016. Rodriguez subsequently was indicted on the same charge on May 10, 2016. According to the indictment, Rodriguez previously had been convicted of several felony offenses including aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, auto burglary, aggravated battery against a household member causing great bodily harm, child abuse, conspiracy to commit auto burglary, and battery on a peace officer.

During today’s proceedings, Rodriguez pled guilty to the indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At sentencing, Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. If the Court determines that Rodriguez is an armed career criminal, Rodriguez faces an enhanced sentence of a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting this case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.